Everyone, please note that I will be in Europe on a seminar tour (see the thread on this page and the flyers on the front page) and so it will be extra appreciated by our Vice President In Charge of Reality Cindy/Pretty Kitty if you get your fighter registration forms in as soon as possible.

Ramping up a bit - starting to feel "real" and realizing there are going to be some damn good fighters present. I'm really looking forward to this, although actually a little more nervous than at the Open because every dance here will be a real challenge.But then, that's why we do this in the first place, right?

All of Cro Dogs fighters are serious individuals, a very strong Clan! Cro is one of those rare coaches who sees the big picture not just in terms of the parts, but truely knows how to integrate them. One of my favorite parts of catching up at the Euro-Camp and the Euro Gathering is sidling up to him and asking him a few questions, and he's always willing to share

There's rumor we may wave some sticks at the sun and moon during this and have Night Owl record it for posterity:

Q: What's the best place to view the eclipse in Southern California?

A: The partial solar eclipse will occur late in the day in Southern California on Sunday, beginning at 5:24 p.m., reaching its maximum coverage at 6:38 p.m., and exiting the sun's path at 7:42 p.m., just 10 minutes before sunset. "That means the sun is fairly low in the northwest, and you want a clear view of the northwest horizon," said Griffith Observatory director Ed Krupp.

He suggested a place with a clear view of the northwest, with an elevated view and a clear horizon, to see the moon obscure the sun's beams. Griffith Observatory, which is run by the city of Los Angeles, will have extra telescopes and staff on hand to help people view the eclipse for free.

"They'll be seeing something that is really unusual -- a big bite coming out of the sun. And that's the real charm of this event," Krupp said.

Q: How big of a bite will the moon's shadow take of the sun?

A: According to the Griffith Observatory, 86% of the sun's diameter will be covered up by the moon. (That statistic is the standard one astronomers like to use; lay people may prefer knowing that 79% of the area of the sun will be covered up.) "It's a pretty deep eclipse here in Los Angeles," Krupp said